Benadryl anyone???

This was supposed to go with the post below. This picture just goes to show if Easton went outside and plays with Maddie than touches his face or eyes without washing his hands, it looked worse in person. Can we say ALLERGIC!

MAn'S beST fRiENd oR JUst dEViN's

Not a lot of people knew I had a dog (other than close friends & family and our neighbors). I feel bad because I never really referred to her as my dog or "OuR" dog even it was just mostly "DEVIN"S DOG". Well the "dOg'S" name was Maddie. Anyone that knows me knows that I am not a dog person. I never grew up with any animals let a lone a dog and they just never appealed to me. For one they always made me kind of nervous (still do depending on the size) and for two they stink, shed and slobber everywhere. When I started dating Devin and I knew he had a dog I was ok but I didn't know that this dog "lived in the house" "slept with him" and everything. I thought that was so gross. I guess I didn't realize what a "DoG lOVEr" Devin was. One thing about Maddie was she did not like me at ALL when Dev and I first started dating. I think she knew I was the competition and as far as she was concerned I was in her territory. She especially didn't like me when we got married because she had to move outside and was NEVER to come in the house and that's how it always was. Another thing was since she was "Devin's dog" he had to do everything; walk her, feed and water her, play with her, everything. After all she wasn't "my dog". When we lived in the townhouse our friends Joe and Michelle had a boxer named Sadie and Maddie and her loved to play together. Then they got another Boxer named Duke and I was beginning to think I was the only one that didn't like dogs. I made Devin promise that when we got married he would get rid of her. After a year that didn't happen we were moving to "our house" and I said she had to go then!

Devin made the excuse since we had a yard now far better reason to keep her. I thought otherwise. Also all of our neighbors had atleast two dogs or more so than I felt even worse about it and kind of outnumbered as far as excuses went! Everyone around me had a dog, so who was going to listen to me complain or understand how I felt about it. How were we supposed to go in the back yard with her out there? Easton is allergic to animals especially ones that shed. Sometimes when I was mad at Devin, I would tell him I was just going to take care of it myself and was going to load her up in the car and drop her off somewhere. Well I may not be a dog lover but I DO have a heart, so needless to say I could never bring myself to do that. I finally got to the point where I realized she was now just a part of the family. I asked Devin if he could atleast build her a dOg rUn or something. So in May that was one of his projects and he built her a dOg rUn and on the other side a garden (pictures later)!


Devin loved Maddie he would walk her and go out and play fEtCh with her but one of his favorite things to do with her was take her up in the mOuNTaiNs and hIkE! Last year she hiked Timp with Devin and did a great job!

She really was a great dog. She listened and minded. She was quiet when she needed to be. I also felt very safe knowing she was in the back yard. She was very protective. When I quit my job last year to stay home Devin asked me if I would help out with her as far as feeding and giving her water. I thought if that was all I had to do I would. I think she got to the point where she knew to not lick or come over to me because I would always tell her "NO". I did grow to love her though (as long as she wasn't in my house) and I think her and I had an understanding.

Easton loved her and even though he was allergic to her still would want to go out and play with her and throw her the ball! Then Gracie came along and she loved her as soon as she could make sense of it all. You would ask her "where's the doggy" and she would point, scoot or crawl over to the window to look for her. When Maddie would come up to the window Gracie would pound on it and get all excited. She soon knew what the doggy said and would make the sound if you asked her! She was never afraid and Maddie loved Gracie just as much. She would always want to come up to her and lick her.

I was always so concerned at first but Maddie was so patient and gentle. The only harm she did was lick too much but Gracie didn't mind, she would kind of just wipe it off with the back of her hand and smile. The beginning of Summer came and we noticed something was wrong with her eyes, after awhile we realized she was going blind. Then later we noticed she couldn't hear, you would go back there and she would have no idea. The last month when you would let her out she would always run into everything and have no idea where you were. So she relied on her sense of smell for almost everything. It got really sad because her eyes and everything got worse and worse. Devin knew the time was coming to have to put her down, I think he was really dreading it though.

He had gotten Maddie right after his divorce and when he was lonely. She became his buddy and did everything together until I came along! So last Wednesday Devin came home early from work to take her to do what needed to be done. He explained to Easton what was going to happen. Easton did better than I thought. I was actually having a hard time, harder than I thought. I was sad, mostly for Devin but a little for her as well. I know this is what needed to happen but I never had experienced something like that before. I balled through Marley and Me so it came as no surprise when we were going through similar circumstances and I was having a hard time and I didn't even like her to begin with, go figure! It was mostly because of what she meant to Devin and what she represented for us. We got some nice family pictures with her before she left. I could tell Devin was trying to act like it was no big deal but I saw through his actions and his eyes later on what he was going through on the inside. I knew what she meant to him and what she represented for him as well. She was a really good dog and will be missed. Even though I am still not tHaT much of a dog lover, Maddie did bring me closer and she was a great first dog for me and a interesting experience, she will always have a special place in our family's heart. GOOdbyE MAddIE!

Gracie's 1st hair cut

Getting started


BEFORE:



AFTER:

So cute.....it looks better in person. Looks like a little mini bob, I love it!

Hallie's 1st Birthday

Hallie Boo turned 1 on July 29th but we had her party the night before at Jamie and Luke's.

Getting into her cake and deciding she really likes this......


Right before her bath, she was a big mess!


Her cute princess cake that Jamie made. Even though it was a little crooked lol Jamie did a great job and it turned out so cute!!


Gracie doing her favorite thing with grandpa....being thrown in the air.


Don't ask me how we got all three of them to hold still for a picture but we did (and don't they all look a little somber well ya it was bedtime).

I can't believe they are all one now! Where does the time go? This has been such a fun year with all of them but we are just getting started. Happy birthday sweet Hallie Boo we love you!

Mini family reunion in Midway 24th of July weekend!

The reason I say mini was cause it was short and sweet but perfect. We went up to Midway with Devin's parents, Aunt and Uncle and cousins. The whole family wasn't able to make it so that is also why it was MINI. We stayed up in a beautiful cabin for 2 days. We went four wheeling, played SCUM and one night until 2:30 a.m. Ate good food of course and also went to Heber and got some shakes from "Granny's" apparently they are famous for their shakes but in my whole life living here never made it up there to Heber just for shakes. It was a fun weekend though to say the least.

Our view for two days



These guys weren't so bad either but Gracie slept horrible. I am telling you this girl apparently only sleeps her 12-14 hrs in "her" crib!


Devin and I on our 4-wheeler ride


Easton and grandma Debbie


View from the highest peak on our ride





Easton and his cousin Bella, she is quite the little poser. Good thing Easton had someone to play with. They played pretty cute together, I even think Bella got Easton to play house lol When he wasn't playing with Bella though he was obsessed with playing Devin's cousin hand held play station thing.


Grandma Debbie and Grace girl


On our way down from the Cabin we went shopping at the outlets (of course) and bought a few items. Then after that we went and ate at Ruby Tuesday with Dev's parents. It was really good and a great way to end the trip!

CaSiNo nIGht

On Friday July 24th we had Casino night at Jamie's house for Kylie's 21st birthday (which is really on the 27th) but since none of us could go to Vegas we brought a little bit of Vegas to us. Like I have said before Jamie is the ultimate party planner, she had her house all decorated like a casino with cute decorations, drinks and all! (obviously the drinks were virgin)

The cute birthday girl


Everyone at the poker table playing "21" unfortunately we were playing with just chips!




Kylie's cute "Vegas" themed cake



All the chicas at the party


Happy birthday Kyz! I can't believe you are 21 cause I swear sometimes you should be older by all the things you have done in your life so far. I hope you know that I just love you. I think you are a wonderful mother and wife. You are great at everything you do and put your mind too. I hope this will be a fabulous year for ya. I am not only glad we are sisters but friends we have alot of laughs and fun together. You are great. Love ya.

"We are the Champions"

My brother plays on an Allstar baseball team for Orem. He was "hand selected" last spring to play on this team. They have worked very hard and were able to go to tournament. They went undefeated the whole time and went to State! So on Wed. July 22nd me and all my sisters along with the kiddos went up to Kaysville to support our little bro. They were playing a team not only that they had won before but killed. It was so cute watching him play and as his oldest sister I must say I was really proud, he is quite the ball player. Well I don't know if it was nerves or all in their heads but they lost the first game but luckily for us it was double elimination so since we had beat this team before they had to beat us twice. It was a hot long day, the first game started at 3:30 and went tell about 6:15 p.m. mind you we had all of our kids too and did I mention it was hot! So we of course had to stay until the second game was over. Needless to say my brother's team was able to beat this other team again. They actually one by alot, they normally go until 7 innings but we were done by 5 with the 10 run rule. Which means we kept getting homers and scoring schooling them over and over! The final score was 16 to 2. So my brother and his team were able to go to Nationals in Cali, which is where they were this last weekend. After the game we found out that this is the first time EVER that Orem has been to State and won. Let alone go to Nationals. It was pretty cool to see and like I said I am one proud sister. Congrats CJ, we love you!

My Bro and his team


His proud sisters


Proud parents


Hot little Gracie


And hot little Easton (look how red their cheeks are)


#1 Baby!!!